EP0612968B1 - Procédé de pré-traitement dans la liquéfaction de gaz naturel - Google Patents

Procédé de pré-traitement dans la liquéfaction de gaz naturel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0612968B1
EP0612968B1 EP94102650A EP94102650A EP0612968B1 EP 0612968 B1 EP0612968 B1 EP 0612968B1 EP 94102650 A EP94102650 A EP 94102650A EP 94102650 A EP94102650 A EP 94102650A EP 0612968 B1 EP0612968 B1 EP 0612968B1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
feed
stream
column
natural gas
hydrocarbons
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EP94102650A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0612968A1 (fr
Inventor
Charles Arthur Durr
William Charles Petterson
David Alan Coyle
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MW Kellogg Co
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MW Kellogg Co
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L3/00—Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas
    • C10L3/06—Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by C10G, C10K3/02 or C10K3/04
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0247—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 4 carbon atoms or more
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G5/00—Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas
    • C10G5/06—Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas by cooling or compressing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0244—Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation
    • F25J1/0245—Different modes, i.e. 'runs', of operation; Process control
    • F25J1/0249—Controlling refrigerant inventory, i.e. composition or quantity
    • F25J1/025—Details related to the refrigerant production or treatment, e.g. make-up supply from feed gas itself
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0204—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the feed stream
    • F25J3/0209—Natural gas or substitute natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0233—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/02—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a single pressure main column system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/50—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/74—Refluxing the column with at least a part of the partially condensed overhead gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/02—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using simple phase separation in a vessel or drum
    • F25J2205/04—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using simple phase separation in a vessel or drum in the feed line, i.e. upstream of the fractionation step
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/30—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/50—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using absorption, i.e. with selective solvents or lean oil, heavier CnHm and including generally a regeneration step for the solvent or lean oil
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/06—Splitting of the feed stream, e.g. for treating or cooling in different ways
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/62—Liquefied natural gas [LNG]; Natural gas liquids [NGL]; Liquefied petroleum gas [LPG]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/64—Separating heavy hydrocarbons, e.g. NGL, LPG, C4+ hydrocarbons or heavy condensates in general
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/02—Expansion of a process fluid in a work-extracting turbine (i.e. isentropic expansion), e.g. of the feed stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/02—Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/12—External refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/60—Closed external refrigeration cycle with single component refrigerant [SCR], e.g. C1-, C2- or C3-hydrocarbons
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
    • F25J2270/904—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration by liquid or gaseous cryogen in an open loop

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of pretreating a natural gas stream comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1.
  • a method is known, for example, from US-A-4 012 212.
  • Natural gas is liquefied to facilitate its transportation. Prior to liquefaction, raw natural gas must generally be treated to remove components which can freeze and plug equipment during the formation and/or processing of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Thus, water, carbon dioxide and heavier hydrocarbon components containing 5 or more carbon atoms (C 5+ ) are generally removed.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • U. S. Patent 4,012,212 to Kniel describes a process for liquefying a hydrocarbon gas under a pressure greater than the critical pressure thereof wherein the gas is expanded to below the critical pressure and fed to a first fractionator.
  • the first fractionator removes the light components from the feed gas for subsequent liquefaction.
  • the bottoms of the first column are fed to a second fractionator wherein a butane-rich stream is separated from the C 5 and heavier hydrocarbons to provide a reflux liquid for the first fractionator.
  • U. S. Patent 4,070,165 to Colton describes a pretreatment process for raw natural gas prior to liquefaction. After water and acid gas removal, the high pressure gas is expanded and scrubbed with a butane-rich liquid previously separated from the gas to remove heavy hydrocarbons. A scrubbing column separates the lighter components for subsequent liquefaction and the bottoms are fractionated into the major components and the butane-rich liquid.
  • U. S. Patent to 4,430,103 to Gray et al. describes a process for the cryogenic recovery of LNG from natural gas.
  • a natural gas stream predominating in methane and containing significant amounts of C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , and C 5 and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons is cooled in a plurality of cooling stages to a temperature sufficient to produce at least one heavy component liquid phase.
  • the liquid phase and a portion of the vapor phase are combined and fed to a column.
  • the remaining portion of the vapor phase is further cooled and the liquid phase of these stages provides a reflux liquid for the column.
  • the bottoms from the column are further fractionated to provide C 2 and C 3 makeup gas for the cooling stages and separate C 5+ liquids.
  • U. S. Patent 4,445,917 to Chiu describes a process for producing a purified natural gas from a raw gas feed containing methane and hydrocarbon impurities of C 2 and heavier.
  • the raw feed is cooled, distilled to remove impurities and purified such that the distillation reflux is supplied by a portion of a subcooled methane-rich liquid stream.
  • U. S. Patent 3,817,046 to Aoki et al. describes a combination cooling system useful for the liquefaction of natural gas.
  • the cooling system employs a multi-component cooling cycle coupled to an absorption refrigerant cycle and heat from turbine exhaust.
  • a distillation column is used to remove heavy components which can freeze.
  • the vapor phase removed from the column is cooled to provide condensate for reflux and the vapor portion is then liquefied.
  • U. S. Patent 4,445,916 to Newton describes a process for liquefying natural gas in which heavier components are separated in a scrub column prior to liquefaction.
  • the feed to the scrub column is intercooled against the methane-rich overhead from the column and expanded.
  • U. S. Patent 3,440,828 to Pryor et al. describes a process for liquefying natural gas using cascade refrigeration.
  • the raw gas is partially cooled using a propane refrigeration cycle and fed to a distillation column to remove hexane.
  • the overhead vapor is cooled using an ethylene refrigeration cycle and a liquid phase produced provides a reflux for the distillation column.
  • the vapor of the ethylene cooling cycle is cooled in a methane cycle then expanded and fed to a stripping column wherein the liquid feed is stripped of nitrogen.
  • U. S. Patent 3,724,226 to Pachaly describes a process for the liquefaction of natural gas.
  • the raw gas is cryogenically fractionated to remove the CO 2 and C 5+ hydrocarbons and the purified feedstock is cooled and liquefied under pressure.
  • the overhead vapor of the fractionation column is partially condensed to provide a reflux.
  • U. S. Patent 4,881,960 to Ranke et al. describes a process for scrubbing a hydrocarbon stream rich in C 2+ with a physical scrubbing agent in a column to remove the C 2+ components.
  • the scrubbing agent is a C 4+ bottoms product having a suitable composition.
  • U. S. Patent 4,519,824 to Huebel describes a cryogenic process for separating methane from ethane and heavier hydrocarbons in which a high pressure gas feed is divided into two gas streams. The gas is cooled either before or after it is divided. The divided gas streams are selectively cooled, expanded and separated into vapor and condensate streams and fed to a fractionation column.
  • the present invention is based in part on the recognition that in many instances complex natural gas pretreatment schemes prevalent in the prior art are very inefficient.
  • Natural gas can be pretreated to remove freezable hydrocarbons having 5 or more carbon atoms (C 5+ ) by employing a single scrub column operated with (1) more of the hydrocarbons having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms (C 2 -C 4 ) being produced overhead; (2) a feed stream having a vapor-liquid mass ratio of C 2 -C 4 hydrocarbons greater than 1; and/or (3) a reflux comprising liquefied natural gas or overhead vapor condensate.
  • separation efficiency for C 5+ components is substantially enhanced while reducing capital costs and energy requirements.
  • One aspect of the present invention feeds natural gas essentially free of CO 2 and water to a scrub column at a stage preferably near the bottom and employs an overhead vapor condensate reflux.
  • a scrub column at a stage preferably near the bottom and employs an overhead vapor condensate reflux.
  • savings are achieved because the present invention condenses less C 2 -C 4 hydrocarbons in the feed to the column, resulting in lower refrigeration and reboiler duties.
  • an enhanced C 5+ separation factor permits operation of a scrub column having fewer stages.
  • the present invention provides a method of pretreating a natural gas stream for liquefaction by removing freezable C 5+ components comprising the features according to claim 1.
  • natural gas essentially free of water and CO 2 is introduced to the scrub column at a relatively low feed point and at an ambient temperature, preferably from about 0°C to about 30°C.
  • the reflux preferably comprises overhead vapor condensate at a temperature of about ambient down to about -40°C.
  • lean natural gas feed containing less than about 3 mole percent of C 2 and heavier hydrocarbons, is cooled to a temperature of from about 0°C to about -22°C and is introduced to a scrub column at a midcolumn feed point.
  • the reflux comprises LNG, vapor condensate or a combination thereof.
  • a portion of the feed stream is preferably split into an upper feed stream and fed to the enriching section of the scrub column.
  • the upper feed stream is preferably separated into a liquid feed stream and a vapor feed stream which is expanded.
  • the expanded vapor feed stream is introduced to an enriching section of the column, and the liquid feed stream is introduced to the column at a feed point one or more stages above the midcolumn feed point and below the vapor feed point.
  • LNG reflux is used, the temperature at the top of the scrub column is controlled between about -75°C and about -50°C by adjusting the reflux rate.
  • NGL natural gas liquids
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing a scrub column using overhead condensate reflux.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention showing a scrub column using LNG reflux.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the present invention showing a scrub column using an expanded feed stream and reflux comprising LNG and sidestream condensate.
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention showing a C 5+ removal column using a split feed stream wherein one portion is cooled and expanded and a reflux comprises LNG.
  • Fig. 5 is a graphical diagram plotting predicted C 6 vapor concentration in a scrub column against theoretical stages for both the process of the present invention as shown in Fig. 1 and a typical prior art process (i. e. feed cooling and a relatively higher feed point).
  • a natural gas scrub column designed to separate freezable C 5+ components from natural gas, has reduced refrigeration and reboiler duty as well as greatly enhanced C 5+ separation efficiency when operated substantially as an absorber.
  • natural gas previously treated to remove water, CO 2 and sulfur by means well known in the art, is introduced through line 10 under pressure to the scrub column 12 preferably as a vapor or at a high mass ratio of vapor to liquid C 2 -C 4 components, e.g., more than 90 to 10.
  • the feed is preferably at a relatively low feed point 11 , i.e., there are more stages in the enriching section above the feed point than in the lower stripping section below the feed point, to effect removal of freezable C 5+ components.
  • the temperature of the natural gas in line 10 has an ordinary ambient temperature on the order of 17°C.
  • the pressure in line 10 generally ranges between about 3.5 MPa (500 psia) to about 14 MPa (2000 psia), and more preferably between about 3.5 MPa to about 7 MPa (1000 psia). It is well known that the operating pressure in the column 12 must be lower than the critical pressure of the gas mixture (the critical pressure of methane is 4.64 MPa (673 psia)) to enable phase separation based on boiling point differences of gas components to take place.
  • the feed point 11 is selected in conjunction with temperature and composition similarity of the feed gas and a given location in the column 12 .
  • the present process is specifically designed to remove freezable C 6+ components to a relatively low concentration in an overhead vapor product 24 .
  • Design of the column 12 in reference to tray count (where appropriate) and diameter conforms to standard practice.
  • the column 12 is substantially operated in an absorption region, i.e., more C 2 -C 4 components are obtained in the vapor product 14 than in the bottoms line 16 , and substantially all of the C 5+ components are discharged to the bottoms line 16 .
  • the overhead vapor stream comprising primarily methane and C 2 -C 4 components is taken from the column 12 through line 14 .
  • a portion of the overhead vapor is condensed by refrigeration cooler or partial condenser 18 and collected in a separator 20 .
  • the condensed overhead stream is returned to the column 12 through line 22 to provide a reflux.
  • the reflux liquid is thus essentially free of C 5+ and absorbs C 5+ components from the vapor stream rising in the column 12 .
  • one or more intercondensers can be operated, typically up to three intercondensers spaced between the feed point 11 and the reflux line 22 .
  • the overhead partial condenser 18 preferably operates at a temperature less than ambient to about -40°C. Suitable refrigerants include, for example, propane and freon.
  • An overhead vapor product comprising less than about 1 ppm C 6+ components is removed through line 24 for subsequent liquefaction in an LNG plant.
  • a bottoms liquid rich in C 5+ components with a minor amount of C 2 -C 4 components is removed through line 16 .
  • a portion of the liquid is vaporized by the reboiler 26 and returned to the column 12 through line 28 .
  • a bottoms stream comprising a natural gas liquids (NGL) product is withdrawn through line 30 for distribution.
  • NNL natural gas liquids
  • Figs. 2-4 illustrate preferred alternative arrangements for the scrub column 12 , wherein LNG provides part or all of the reflux, which are particularly attractive when the natural gas composition is lean in C 2+ components.
  • This arrangement is particularly attractive where there are freezable components in the natural gas but relatively low levels of C2-C4 in the natural gas to help scrub out these freezable components.
  • Typical lean natural gas streams comprise (in approximate molar percentages): 94-97 % methane, 2-3 % ethane, 0.5-1 % propane, 0.1-0.2 % butane, 0.05-0.1 % isobutane, 0.02-0.07 % pentane, 0.01-0.05 % hexane and 1-3 % nitrogen. Because LNG reflux is expensive to produce, all or part of the natural gas feed stream in line 10 is preferably cooled prior to introduction to the column 12 in order to reduce the LNG reflux rate.
  • natural gas is cooled by refrigeration cooler 32 to a temperature from about -40°C to about 0°C and introduced to the column 12 at a midcolumn feed point 34 (corresponding to a location in the column 12 having similar temperature and composition).
  • the cooler 32 can employ freon or propane as refrigerant although this is not particularly critical to the invention.
  • An overhead vapor product comprising less than about 1 ppm C 6+ is removed through line 36 to the LNG plant.
  • a bottoms NGL product rich in C 6+ components, and optionally rich in C 2 -C 4 products, is removed through line 38 .
  • the proportion of C 2 -C 4 products in line 38 can be relatively minor or quite substantial, depending on the feed composition and operation of the column 12 .
  • lean natural gas is cooled by turbine expander 44 to a temperature between about -10°C to about -50°C then introduced to the column 12 at a feed point 46 corresponding to a location in the column 12 having similar temperature and composition as mentioned above.
  • a vapor stream taken from a rectifying section of the column 12 through line 48 is cooled by refrigeration cooler or intercondenser 50 , preferably to a temperature of from about -20°C to about -40°C, and returned to the column through line 52 .
  • Liquid condensed from the vapor in line 48 lowers the LNG reflux requirement from line 40 .
  • the choice between LNG reflux as opposed to a combined LNG and condensate reflux depends on a determination of lowest energy requirement, i.e. the LNG refrigeration duty versus the refrigerating duty of the cooler 50 .
  • a remaining vapor portion of the cooled second portion of the feed stream is withdrawn from the separator 64 in line 72 , expanded through a turbine expander 74 and introduced to the column 12 at an upper feed point 76 .
  • the feed points 60 , 70 and 76 generally correspond to the composition and temperature of the respective feed streams.
  • the feed point 60 is a mid-column feed defining the upper enriching section and the lower stripping section of the column 12 .
  • the liquid feed point 70 is generally disposed between the feed point 60 and the vapor feed point 76 .
  • the LNG reflux can be used alone or proportionally supplemented with condensate present in the feed gas and/or made by cooling vapor withdrawn from the column.
  • the exact proportion of LNG to condensate in the reflux is determined by several considerations including composition of the feed gas, tradeoff of condensate refrigeration duty against LNG liquefaction duty, energy costs against capital costs, type of refrigeration system used in the LNG plant, and the like.
  • the focus of pretreatment can shift from supplying ethane, propane and butane makeup gas to conventional LNG refrigeration systems to the removal of freezable C 5+ components.
  • the present invention has several advantages over conventional treatment schemes.
  • the chilled feed produces liquids which are stripped to remove light components from the bottoms product and heavy components are absorbed near the top of the column by the reflux.
  • the feed temperature is relatively warm and cooling in the column is preferably provided by the overhead condenser. Consequently, the heavy components are absorbed lower in the column to greatly enhance C 5+ removal efficiency.
  • Shifting column cooling obviates the need for feed chillers which generally operate at a higher pressure than the column necessitating high pressure design criteria. Significantly less ethane is condensed in comparison to the prior art, thus reducing refrigeration and reboiler duty.
  • Other advantages gained by cooling the column at the lower process pressure overhead condenser include greater vapor-liquid density differences for enhanced separation and elimination of any possibility that inlet flow to the pressure letdown valve may be two-phase.
  • the duty of the overhead condenser can ordinarily be satisfied using readily available refrigerants, for example, freon or propane.
  • the prior art typically requires a lower temperature than can be obtained from employing freon or propane necessitating use of multicomponent refrigeration in the column.
  • the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 2-4 can employ LNG as the reflux without a significant economic penalty, particularly for LNG plants using liquid nitrogen as refrigerant, in contrast to conventional art.
  • liquid nitrogen can be obtained more cheaply than refrigeration generated by cascade or multicomponent systems.
  • the column temperature is low and the feed gas must generally be precooled to reduce the LNG reflux.
  • Use of expanders in the feed stream can generate refrigeration and splitting the feed stream as shown in Fig. 4 can reduce feed cooler and reboiler duty.
  • a lean natural gas stream comprising 3 mole percent C 2+ , 1 mole percent N 2 and 96 mole percent methane is pretreated to remove C 5+ components using the process of the present invention (Example 1) as shown in Fig. 1. Vapor samples are removed from several midcolumn trays and evaluated for C 6 concentration. These results are graphically illustrated in Fig. 5.
  • a similar feed gas is pretreated using a similar column operating under conventional processing conditions (Comparative Example 1), wherein the inlet feed is cooled, reflux condensate has a lower bubble point temperature (provided by a multicomponent refrigeration system) and the bottoms liquid is distilled by additional columns into ethane, propane and butane products to obtain makeup gas for the multicomponent refrigeration unit.
  • Comparative example vapor samples are also evaluated for C 6 concentration as above and are shown graphically in Fig. 5. Operating conditions for both columns are set forth in Table 1. TABLE 1 Operating Conditions Example 1 Comp. Ex. 1 Feed inlet temp (°C) 17 -40 Reflux temp. (°C) -40 -70 Reboiler temp. (°C) 27 2 No. of trays 9 9 Feed inlet tray 8 4 Average column temp (°C) -6 -34 Column pressure (MPa) 3.79 3.79 Mass ratio V/L products 18 4

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Claims (17)

  1. Procédé de prétraitement d'un courant de gaz naturel pour la liquéfaction en éliminant les composants gelables, comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    introduire un courant d'alimentation de gaz naturel sur un point d'alimentation d'une colonne de lavage comportant des sections d'enrichissement supérieure et inférieure ;
    mettre en contact le courant d'alimentation avec un courant de reflux liquide introduit dans la section supérieure de la colonne pour absorber du courant d'alimentation les hydrocarbures C5+ ;
    à rebouillir une portion du liquide dans la section inférieure de la colonne pour éliminer les hydrocarbures plus légers du courant d'alimentation ;
    caractérisé en ce que
    le courant d'alimentation de gaz naturel introduit contient du méthane et des hydrocarbures C5+ et présente un rapport de masse entre la vapeur C2 - C4 et le liquide supérieur à 1,0 et en ce que le procédé comprend de plus les étapes consistant à :
    récupérer un produit de vapeur de tête contenant des hydrocarbures C2 - C4 ayant une concentration inférieure à environ 1 ppm d'hydrocarbures C6+ ;
    à récupérer un produit de fond liquide enrichi en hydrocarbures C5+ ; et
    exploiter la colonne pour obtenir les hydrocarbures C2 - C4 principalement dans le produit de tête.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le courant d'alimentation a une température allant d'environ 0°C à environ 30°C.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le nombre d'étages au-dessus du point d'alimentation de la colonne est supérieur au nombre d'étages au-dessous du point d'alimentation.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le courant de reflux est à une température allant d'environ la température ambiante jusqu'à environ -40°C.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le courant de reflux est essentiellemènt exempt d'hydrocarbures C5+.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant de plus l'exploitation d'un condenseur partiel de tête pour fournir le courant de reflux.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, comprenant de plus l'exploitation d'un à trois intercondenseurs positionnés entre le point d'alimentation et le point de reflux.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le courant d'alimentation en gaz naturel contient moins d'environ 3 % en mole d'hydrocarbures C2+.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, comprenant de plus la condensation d'au moins une partie du produit vapeur de tête et la mise sous reflux du condenseur.
  10. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le courant de reflux de condensat est à une température allant d'environ la température ambiante jusqu'à environ -40°C.
  11. Procédé selon la revendication 8, comprenant de plus l'étape consistant à dilater le courant d'alimentation à partir d'une pression supérieure à la pression d'exploitation de la colonne pour refroidir le courant d'alimentation avant l'étape d'alimentation.
  12. Procédé selon la revendication 8, comprenant la division d'une portion du courant d'alimentation en un courant d'alimentation supérieur, le refroidissement du courant d'alimentation supérieur et l'introduction du courant d'alimentation supérieur dans la colonne à un second point d'alimentation à un plusieurs étages au-dessus du premier point d'alimentation.
  13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, comprenant la séparation du courant d'alimentation supérieur refroidi en courant d'alimentation vapeur et liquide, la détente du courant vapeur, l'introduction du courant d'alimentation vapeur détendu en un second point d'alimentation contigu au sommet de la colonne, et l'introduction du courant d'alimentation liquide à un troisième point d'alimentation au-dessous du second point d'alimentation à un ou plusieurs étages au-dessus du premier point d'alimentation.
  14. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel la température au sommet de la colonne est régulée entre environ -75°C et environ -50°C en ajustant le débit du courant de reflux.
  15. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le courant de reflux est sensiblement exempt d'hydrocarbures C5+.
  16. Procédé selon la revendication 8, comprenant de plus l'exploitation d'un intercondenseur positionné entre le point d'alimentation et le courant de reflux de gaz naturel liquéfié.
  17. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le courant de reflux liquide comprend du gaz naturel liquéfié.
EP94102650A 1993-02-23 1994-02-22 Procédé de pré-traitement dans la liquéfaction de gaz naturel Revoked EP0612968B1 (fr)

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US08/021,384 US5325673A (en) 1993-02-23 1993-02-23 Natural gas liquefaction pretreatment process
US21384 1993-02-23

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EP0612968B1 true EP0612968B1 (fr) 1997-04-16

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JP (1) JPH06299175A (fr)
KR (1) KR100289546B1 (fr)
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DE (1) DE69402589T2 (fr)
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DE69402589D1 (de) 1997-05-22
AU5515194A (en) 1994-09-01
KR100289546B1 (ko) 2001-05-02
KR940019841A (ko) 1994-09-15
AU662089B2 (en) 1995-08-17
US5325673A (en) 1994-07-05
EP0612968A1 (fr) 1994-08-31
JPH06299175A (ja) 1994-10-25
ES2101367T3 (es) 1997-07-01
DE69402589T2 (de) 1997-07-24
MY110197A (en) 1998-02-28

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